Electric-arc lamp



(No Model.)

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1; C. J. VAN DEPOELE.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

' Patented Oct. 2, 1883.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet 2.

O. J. VAN DEPOELB.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

Patented Oct. 2, 1883.

Fig.4.

n. PEYERS. mmmo n m, wmi m o. c.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,094, dated October 2, 1883.

Application filed June 18, 1883.

To all 1071,0711, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES .I. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Electric-Arc Lamp; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full. clear, and exact description of the in vention, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in electric-arc lamps and it consists in a mode of producing the feed of the carbons in such lamps by special electro-magnctic devices, herein fully explained, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification.

In a former application on this lamp I have explained and claimed some parts which it will not be necessary to repeat here. The first application can be named Case A, and the present one Jase B. I intend in the present to dwell simply on the improvements and alterations made to the application for Letters Patent in Case A, and not shown in that case.

Figure l is a general view of the lamp and its working mechanism. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the top plate of the lamp, showing the escapement. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the annular field-magnet, its armature, and contact-brushes. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the working parts of the lamp.

Similar letters denote like parts.

A is an annular field-magnet wound and con nected similar to the Pacinotti armature. The terminals of all the different coils or sections are brought out and connected to contacts cc (1, &c., upon which the contact-brushes a and a are traveling.

:3 is a crossbar fixed to shaft K by means of a hub and setscrew. Said cross-bar carries the contacts a and a and is )rovided with setsulated from the shalt K, upon which it is mounted. D is a contact-brush. E is a post (No model.)

carrying D. E is a connecting-post screwed into F. All are properly insulated from top plate at.

" P is a conductor from E to positive post of lamp P.

His a ring, of copper, mounted and insulated upon shaft K.

G is a brush carried bya holder, F, screwed to post Fand bearing upon H.

F is in electrical contact with N, or negative pole of lamp, by-conductor a. Posts 1 and N are properly insulated from top part of lamp.

1' is an escape-wheel, and r the escapement.

c is a flexible conductor bringing the negative pole of lamp in contact with one end of the shunt-coils in armature A, the other end of said coil being permanently connected to the iron core of armature A at T, which is positive.

Z Z are the four posts connectingv m and m together, to which all the parts of the lamp I mechanism are secured.

X is a ring, made of some non-conducting material-such as gelatinized fiber (of commerce) or any other substanceinsulating the annular field-magnet A from the general frame.

m is the bottom plate ot'lamptop.

K is a shaft having a screw-thread cut at its lower end, which engages in a worm-wheel L. K is revolved either to the right or left by the action of A upon A.

V is a flexible band, of copper, carried by pulleys 'v 1). The pulley "0, attached to L, revolves with the same. The band V is pro vided with a carbon-holder, M. Consequently when L revolves either to the right or left, V will raise or lower the carbon 0 is a carrier for L.

e carries the lower pulley, v, and is provided with a screw and nut, c c.

v is a spring, which can be slackened or tightened by nut c", and is intended to compensate for the expansion and contraction in Z) and V.

V is a flexible band or chain, and it is intended to bring the carbons in contact by pulling on the ring '1.

t is a pulley over which V passes.

In order to put in the carbon 0, the lower carbon, 0, is first removed and tpulled downward, which will bring M close to the orifice in O. The upper carbon, 0, is now passed up through Q and slipped into M, the jaws of which are elastic, and hold the carbon thus by spring. The carbon can be shifted upward,and the band V will slip over the pulley v without turning L. Thelower carbon, 0, isnow in serted, and by pulling the ring down 0 will be brought in contact with O.

T T is a flanged tube, one end fastened to top part of lamp, while the other end carries the negative part of lamp.

S S is a disk of asbestus, intended to prevent the parts of lamp being overheated.

O is a disk of heavy asbestus, through a central aperture in which the upper carbon is moved, and which acts as a guide therefor. It is mounted on a disk of sheet-iron and fast ened to S S by means of screws, in order to be able to replace the asbestus in O whenever the opening or orifice should become too much enlarged.

It R is the lower or negative part of lamp, properly secured to and insulated from T T.

Q is the lower-carbon holder.

In top part of lamp is placed an automatic arrangement which will put the carbons together when it happens they are not in contact at the starting of the lights.

F is a post in communication with negative pole of lamp, as above stated, and provided with a projecting arm, 1, which carries an iron armature, 2. 2 is provided with a spring, 4, which will hold its top part in contact with the screw 3.

bis a resistance equal to that of the are when the lamp has to feed.

I is a metallic post fixed to the top m.

J is an electro-magnet intended to operate the armature 2 and break connection with screw-contact?) when the current is circulating through its coils. The core of J is provided with aniron extension in front of armature 2.

Having described the different parts of lamp, I will now explain the same while in operation. The circuits are as follows: The current enters at P, and by p passes over to E, which is in electrical connection with E and commutatorring 0 through D. The current from 0 passes by contact i,110 contact-brush n, to contact-points (t a in the coils of the annular fieldmagnet,

out 011 opposite sides by contacts a a, to contact-brush n, which is'in metallic contact with all parts of top of frame. As will be seen, the current passing in E has a second channel, r s, which allows a certain amount of current to pass without going through the annular fieldmagnet A, 0' 8 being at one end in contact with E, while the other end is in contact with post Z, which is in metallic contact with all other positive parts of lamp. The wheel L and support 6 are also in metallic contact with all positive parts of lamp. Thus the current passes to the copper ribbon or band V, .to carbonholder M, to positive carbon 0, to negative carbon O, to carbon -holder Q, and'frame R R and by conductor 0 0 0 passes over to electro-magnet J, and out of said magnet by proper conductor 0 to F, to a, and finally completes circuit at N. The shunt-circuit around armature A is as follows: One end of its coils is in permanent contact with the positive parts of lamp, the inner end of its coils being soldered or otherwise fastened to its iron core at T. The

outer end is brought out by suitable conductor, 0 c, to ring II, from where the current passes over to negative pole by G, F, F, and n. Now remains to be described the circuits which will bring the carbons down whenever they are separated at the time of starting. \Ve will now conside r the carbons to be separated; The current enters at P and passes part through the resistance r s and part through the annular fieldmagnet A, to the positive parts of lamp, to post 1, resistance 1), to screw-contact 3, to armature 2, to F, and finally back to negative pole N, thus completing the circuit, but not through the carbons, so that the current passing through A would tend to fartherseparate the carbons on account of the disposition of the contactbrushes n it upon a a, &c., with regard to the armature A; but let it be considered now that the'shunt-coils in A are in the samev relation to the current passing through the lamp asif the arc were playingbetween the carbons, the resistance in b being the same as that of the are when it is on the point of feeding down the carbons. Consequently the currentpassin g through the coils of A will magnetize the same with the same polarity as that of the annular field-magnet A, so that A will repel A, which, on revolving, will feed down the carbons until they meet. The moment contact is made between the carbons in the lamp the current passes through the coils of the electro-magnet J, the armature 2 is attracted, and contact is broken between 2 and 3, so that no current is passing through I), and the lamp is working normal. After running a certain time, on stopping the dynamo, all the lamps will have their carbons separated, and on. re-establishing the current 2 and 3 all the In the present application it will be noticed.

that several points have been worked out:

First, the improvements I have made over my prionapplication for a similar lamp, consist.

ing in the brush-carrying bar B, which is made adjustable with regard to the armature A, enabling me to vary the length of the are by displacing the polarity in the annular field- ITO magnet A either nearer to or farther from the central line of the revolving armature A. The nearer the brushes n and n are in line with the armature A the less power there will be between the stationary field-magnet and the revolving armature, thus allowing the lamp to hold a larger arc, until the repulsive action between the magnetic poles is sut'ficicnt to revolve A and feed down the carbons. By placing the brushes a and n farther from the center of A, the repellent action in the mag netic system will be greater, the carbons will feed quicker, and a shorter are will be the result, so that by means of the cross-bar B, I can adjust the length of the arc the lamp has to keep.

The second improvement is to shorten the total length of the lamp, thereby enabling the same to be placed in any position while burning without interfering with the proper working of the lamp. This is done by combining with the electro-imtgnetic system a worm and wheel actuating an endless band carrying the carbons. Thus the lamp may be placed in any suitable position and work equally well.

Third. Another improvement is the addition of an escapement to the shaft carrying the revolving armature. This will check the motion ot'thc revolving armature, which might otherwise acquire a velocity suliicicnt to carry itself beyond its point of balance, thus making the are to be shorter than normal. By the use of the cscapement the armature A can never move unless a certain power is propelling the same.

)onsequently, as soon as the current in the shunt around A is diminishing or falling below a certain point, the armature will stop; but as soon as there is again power enough in A to move the escapement, motion will again be be imparted to the same until the balance is r iaehed by the carbons coming to their normal separation, and so on.

The fourth improvement in this lamp is the automatic meeting of the earlmns at the time of starting the lamps. l t will readily be seen that the top carbon is securelyheld in position by its holder and the endless band, so that the t op ea rl lOll cannot feed or come down by gravity to meet the lower carbon,which is necessary to start the are. In putting in fresh carbons they may be made to meet, and the light directly started; but after the lamps have only burned a minute and the circuit be broken, all the can bons will remain separated, and no arc can be formed unless they first meet, when they can instantly be separated and the light or are formed again. This is one of the indispensable features of the lamp. To obtain this I produce, artificially, a condition in the electromagnetic system of the lamp similar to that when the carbons are far enough apart to need feeding. This is produced as follows: It is awell-known fact that the amount of current circulating through the shunt-coils in an electric lamp will. vary with the length of the are. More current will be circulating while the length of the are is greater, and less while the arc is shorter. The are and the shunt or derived circuit in the lamp running parallel with another, it is readily understood that by proportioning the shunt-circuit so as to become active under a certain length of are, as soon as this length exists the sl'mnt-circuit will become active and operate the feed of the carbons, till the are being again shortened and less current circulating through said shunt, the latter will again fall below its acting power, 860. Now, if the resistance of the are influences the shunt and produces thus the feed of the carbons, it will also be readily understood that, in case no are exists, if in the place of the are I place an artificial resistz'rnce equal to the resistance of the are when it needs feeding, the shunt or derived circnit will be in exactly. the same condition as if the arc were there, consequently causing the carbons to meet, when said artificial resistance can be withdrawn automatically by the current which is now passing through the normal or common circuit of the lamp,operating a contact-breaker by means of a properly-disposed elcctro-magnet, .I, which is only active when the current flows through the carbons of the lamp. Thus the artificial resistance, replacing momentarily the are, brings about the necessary conditions in the derived circuit in A. to operate the proper mechanism for feeding the carbons.

In the present application some points are not explained nor claimed, because they form part of a prior application now pending.

I do not claim in the present application any of the subject-matter covered by the claims in Case A, iiled May 23, 1883, Serial No. 95,910, or in Case (7, filed July 23, 1883, Serial No. 101,614.

Having described the ditlerent parts of my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters llatent in the United States, the following:

1. In an eleel ric-arc lamp, the stationary annnlar field-magnet i\,'\vonnd with coils adapt ed to be connected to a source of electricity by means of contacts a n 11, upon which travel contactbrushes a )1, carried by an adjustable bar, .li, which allows the current to enter and leave on opposite sides of the held-magnet, in

.IIO

combination with a soft-iron armatnrepivoled within the annular field-magnet, and provided with helices included in a shunt around the are, said armature being impelled by the polarity in the lieldanagnet in the direction of its brushes n a, drawingthe carbons apart until the necessary distance intervenes,when the current passing through the said armature will be increased, preventing further motion in the first direction until the carbons are abnormally separatednvhen theincreased magnetism arising from the passage of more currentthrough the shunt will cause the armature to rotate in the opposite direction and bring the carbons nearer together, substantially as described.

2. In an electric-are lamp, means, substantially as described, for temporarily placing in of magnetic balance, as described and set the main circuit, when the carbons are apart at starting, a resistance equal to that of the are when the carbons require feeding, thereby diverting sufficient current tothe electromagnetic feeding mechanism to bring said carbons together, to be immediately separated to es tablish the are, when the said temporary resistance is automatically cut out .of circuit, as described.

3. In an electriclamp in which the carbons are fed by the rotation of an electromagnetic device, an auxiliary electromagnetic device, substantially as described, which will cause the carbons to feed together, in case they are not in contact on starting the light, by placing in the main circuit an artificial resistance representing an abnormal are, thereby diverting to the shunt-coils of a rotating armature sufficient current to cause it to react upon its fieldmagnet, producing in the feeding devices the same conditions as if the carbons were abnormally separated, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric-arclamp, acontinuousband provided with suitable carbon-holder adapted to carry the movable carbon, said band being mounted upon proper pulleys receiving motion from a worm and worm-wheel operated by the electromagnetic feeding devices of the lamp, and a removable disk of asbestus constituting a guide through which the carbon is fed, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electric-arc lamp, a rotating electromagnetic device suitably connected to and actuating a worm-wheel giving motion to a continuous band supported thereon and carrying the movable carbon of the lamp, in combination with pulleys carrying said continuous band, and' means, substantially as described, for adjusting one of said pulleys, and thereby keeping said band or ribbon tight to prevent its slipping, as set forth.

6. In an electric-arc lamp, the annular fieldmagnet having contacts a a a, in combination with the pivoted armature A, mounted upon a suitable central shaft, and the cross-bar B, adjustably secured to the same shaft and provided with contactbrushes a a, properly connected and insulated, as described, and means for adjusting the pressure of the contact brushes upon the contacts a a a in the stationary annular iield-magnet A, andfor placing the cross-bar B in proper relative posit-ion to the armature A, and thereby to adjust the length of the are, substantially as described.

7 In an electric-arc lamp, the fixed annular field-magnet A, and softfiiron armature A, pivoted on the spindle K, and adapted to ro tate inside of said stationary field-magnet under the action of proper currents, as described, the shaft or spindle K being provided with commutators and contact-brushes, as described, in combination with an escapement, r 1", also mounted on the spindle K, in order to prevent the armature A moving past the point forth. 8, In an electric-arc lamp, feed mechanis for regulating the movement of the carbons, driven by an electromagnetic device consisting of a fixed annular field-magnet provided with coils connected up as a Pacinotti armature, and contact-points representing a commutator upon which contactbrushes are made to travel in order to displace the polarity in said field-magnet, in combination with a softiron armature mounted upon aspindle within the annular field-magnet, where it revolves under the influence of proper currents circulating therein, said pivoted armature being providedwith helicesin a derivationbetween the two poles of the lamp,and so connected and arranged that the pivoted armature will be driven one way under the influence of the magnetism in the fixed annular field-magnet so long as no current is passing through the coils of the armature, by reason of the carbons being in too close proximity, until they become separated so far as to allow a sufiicient current to pass in the shunt-helices of the re volving armature to create a magnetic balance between the said annular field-magnet and its rotating armature, thus stopping its motion, and on an increase of distance between the twocarbons, the larger amount of current circulating in the helices of the rotating armature to cause the same to rotate in opposite directions from what it did at first, and thereby to feed the carbon, substantially as set forth.

9. In an electric-arclamp, the combination, with a rotating electromagnetic carbon-feeding device and suitable intermediate gearing, of an endless band positively connected there= with, and to which the movable carbon is secured, substantially as set forth.

10. In an electrioarc lamp, and in combination with the electromagnetic rotating carbonfeeding devices described, a vibrating escape ment for checking or slowing the speed of the rotating armature in said device, whereby the same is prevented from passing the point of magnetic balance by the momentum it might otherwise acquire from a sudden impulse of the shunt-coil, substantially as set forth.

11. In an electric-arc lamp, the combination, with electro -magnet' J, located in the main. circuit, its armature 2, and an adjustable contact, 3, of an artificial resistance, 1), representing the'resistance of an abnormal arc, and in electrical connection with said contact, and means for bringing the armature and contact together, so as to complete the working-circuit and energize the electromagnetic feeding devices when the carbons are apart at starting the lamp, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOE'LE.

Vitnesses: i

/ NORMAN 'T. Gnssnr'rn,

Tnno. P. BAILEY. 

